Pig farming back on the rise
Pig farming back on the rise
Members of the Vientiane Pig Farm Breeding Group are considering increasing their stock numbers to supply a growing demand for pork across the country.
As beef and buffalo meat prices peaked in Vientiane and all over Laos earlier this year, many consumers shifted to eating pork and fish.
Vientiane Pig Farm Breeding Group Head, Mr Neuang Sombounkhan, said as a result, the price of pigs and pork had risen.
Buying a pig at the farm now costs about 21,000-22,000 kip per kg, while pork at the market is worth 37,000-38,000 kip per kg. Mr Neuang said if prices remained stable at such high levels, pig breeders would be able to make their businesses sustainable.
The group is currently calling on the government to consider providing funding for growth in the Lao pig farm sector.
More than 7,000 pigs are owned between the 80-odd member group, a long way short of its peak in 2008 and 2009 when more than 200 pig farms were part of the collective.
A blue ear disease outbreak, competition from illegal foreign pig breeders and high interest rates put a number of farmers out of business and forced others to reduce their pig numbers.
But according to Mr Neuang, some former-members are looking to return to pig farming.
He said if breeders could not meet the continued high demand in the market, pig and pork prices would see further increases.
The number of pigs sold for consumption in Vientiane sat at about 300 per day a few months back, but has now risen to about 500 per day. The demand has also forced farmers to sell animals weighing between 50 and 60kg, rather than the more standard 70 to 80kg.
Mr Neuang said the government had ordered local authorities in Naxaithong district to put a stop to illegal foreign pig farming in the area, removing one more worry for the Lao group.
He said boosting production in the pig breeding group would also help the country's farmers prepare for Asean Economic Community integration in 2015.
The cost of beef remains high in Vientiane at around 65,000-70,000 kip per kg, while fish costs 19,000-20,000 kip per kg.
vientiane times
